Media captionKirsty Williams explains why a phased approach is the best way forward

A big shake-up in what is taught in classrooms in Wales will be introduced a year later than originally planned, the education secretary has announced.

Kirsty Williams said it was the right decision for the new national curriculum to be a “phased roll-out rather than a ‘big bang’.”

The new curriculum will be introduced from nursery to Year 7 in 2022.

Ms Williams has also set out details of a new national education plan.

An independent review more than two years ago recommended a new curriculum, giving more flexibility to schools but also for computer programming and IT skills to be treated with the same importance as literacy and numeracy.

Rather than coming in all at once, the new curriculum will be introduced for all primary school pupils and the first year of secondary school – and then continue to be rolled out as children move through their schooling.

It will phased in:

2022: From nursery to Year 7.

2023: Rolling into Year 8

2024: Year 9

2025: Year 10

2026: Year 11

The original timetable had been due to be fully up and running by 2021, with the content available to teachers by 2018.

Ms Williams said she had spoken to teachers, parents and experts and held talks with unions and that all schools would be given more time to get ready, and will be able to start work on the final curriculum from 2020.

“This approach and an extra year will mean all schools have the time to engage with the development of the curriculum and be full prepared for the changes,” she said.